Colossians 4

New International Version

4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,^(A) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

²Devote yourselves to prayer,^(B) being watchful and thankful. ³And pray for us, too, that God may open a door^(C) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery^(D) of Christ, for which I am in chains.^(E) ⁴Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵Be wise^(F) in the way you act toward outsiders;^(G) make the most of every opportunity.^(H) ⁶Let your conversation be always full of grace,^(I) seasoned with salt,^(J) so that you may know how to answer everyone.^(K)

Final Greetings

⁷Tychicus^(L) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant^[a]^(M) in the Lord. ⁸I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our^[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.^(N) ⁹He is coming with Onesimus,^(O) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.^(P) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹⁰My fellow prisoner Aristarchus^(Q) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,^(R) the cousin of Barnabas.^(S) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) ¹¹Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews^[c] among my co-workers^(T) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹²Epaphras,^(U) who is one of you^(V) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,^(W) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature^(X) and fully assured. ¹³I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea^(Y) and Hierapolis. ¹⁴Our dear friend Luke,^(Z) the doctor, and Demas^(AA) send greetings. ¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,^(AB) and to Nympha and the church in her house.^(AC)

¹⁶After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read^(AD) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

¹⁷Tell Archippus:^(AE) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”^(AF)

¹⁸I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(AG) Remember^(AH) my chains.^(AI) Grace be with you.^(AJ)

Footnotes

Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group

Psalm 145

New International Version

Psalm 145^[a]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹I will exalt you,^(A) my God the King;^(B)
I will praise your name^(C) for ever and ever.
²Every day I will praise^(D) you
and extol your name^(E) for ever and ever.

³Great^(F) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;^(G)
    his greatness no one can fathom.^(H)
⁴One generation^(I) commends your works to another;
    they tell^(J) of your mighty acts.^(K)
⁵They speak of the glorious splendor^(L) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b]^(M)
⁶They tell^(N) of the power of your awesome works—^(O)
    and I will proclaim^(P) your great deeds.^(Q)
⁷They celebrate your abundant goodness^(R)
    and joyfully sing^(S) of your righteousness.^(T)

⁸The Lord is gracious and compassionate,^(U)
slow to anger and rich in love.^(V)

⁹The Lord is good^(W) to all;
    he has compassion^(X) on all he has made.
¹⁰All your works praise you,^(Y) Lord;
    your faithful people extol^(Z) you.^(AA)
¹¹They tell of the glory of your kingdom^(AB)
    and speak of your might,^(AC)
¹²so that all people may know of your mighty acts^(AD)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.^(AE)
¹³Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,^(AF)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy^(AG) in all he promises^(AH)
    and faithful in all he does.^[c]
¹⁴The Lord upholds^(AI) all who fall
    and lifts up all^(AJ) who are bowed down.^(AK)
¹⁵The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food^(AL) at the proper time.
¹⁶You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires^(AM) of every living thing.

¹⁷The Lord is righteous^(AN) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.^(AO)
¹⁸The Lord is near^(AP) to all who call on him,^(AQ)
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹He fulfills the desires^(AR) of those who fear him;^(AS)
    he hears their cry^(AT) and saves them.^(AU)
²⁰The Lord watches over^(AV) all who love him,^(AW)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.^(AX)

²¹My mouth will speak^(AY) in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature^(AZ) praise his holy name^(BA)
for ever and ever.

Footnotes

Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.